Mobile Learning Age: Implications for Future Language Learning Skills

Abstract

The dramatic shift in the language learning processes during recent years led to significant changes in the way teaching and learning happen. This is due to the pervasive of smartphones and tablets among new generations which become academically beneficial learning tools. There is a growing research body on the MALL “Mobile Assisted Language Learning.” However, there is still a dire need to explore the students’ personal use of smartphones and their apps for learning benefits. This study attempted to investigate the impact of using mobile dictionary (MD) apps on the students learning of the English language. A questionnaire was distributed among 87 English majors and responses were analyzed. Follow-up interviews were also conducted with 13 students and their responses were qualitatively analyzed. The findings underscored the essential role smartphones and tablets play in extending learning outside the classroom settings. The results also revealed that most of the students rely heavily on their MDs to translate unknown words. The students also revealed that their teachers did not fully welcome the skills to use MD applications. This study suggested that there is a gap between the MALL skills needed by the students and the teaching style employed by the teachers in the classrooms. This gap increases the necessity for further studies that can identify the frequencies and linguistic needs of English language learners. The study recommends that teachers need to foster a new teaching style as new generations of students will need new skill sets to thrive in social communication and technology-rich.